Proverbs 14
1 Wise women [PRS] hold their families together [by the wise things that they do], but foolish women ruin their families by the foolish things that they do.
The wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish teareth it down with her hands.
2 By [continually] behaving/acting righteously, [people show that they] greatly revere Yahweh; those who (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) [show that they] despise him.
He who walketh in uprightness feareth the LORD; But he who is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 Foolish people will be punished [MTY] for what they say, but wise [people] will be protected by what they say [MTY].
In the mouth of the foolish pride is a scourge; But the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 If [a man has] no oxen [to plow his field], he does not [need to put] grain [in their feedbox], but if [he has] oxen, they will enable [him to produce] an abundant crop.
Where there are no oxen, the crib is clean; But there is great increase by the strength of the ox.
5 Witnesses who are reliable [always] say what (is true/really happened), but witnesses who are not reliable constantly tell lies [about what happened].
A faithful witness doth not lie; But a false witness poureth forth lies.
6 Those who make fun [of being wise] will never become wise, but those who understand [what is right] learn things easily.
The scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Stay away from foolish people, because they will not be able to teach you anything [useful].
Go from the presence of a foolish man; For thou hast not perceived in him the lips of knowledge.
8 Those who have good sense are wise, so they know what they should do [and what they should not do]; foolish people do not know what is right to do, but because they think that they do, they are deceiving themselves.
The wisdom of the prudent is in giving heed to his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Foolish people make fun of their committing sins; but God is pleased with those who do what is right.
Fools make a mock at sin; But with the upright is favor.
10 If you are very sad or if you are joyful, only you know what you are experiencing; no one else [can] know what you are feeling.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness. And a stranger cannot intermeddle with its joy.
11 Houses built by wicked [people] will be destroyed, but houses built by good/righteous [people] will last for a long time.
The house of the wicked shall be destroyed; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that [some] people [falsely] think are right, but (walking on those roads/continually doing those things) causes [those people] to die.
There is a way which seemeth right to a man, But its end is the way to death.
13 [Sometimes] when people laugh, they are [really] sad, and when they stop laughing, they are still sad.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, And the end of joy is grief.
14 Those who stubbornly continue to do what is wrong will get what they deserve, and those who continually do what is good will [also] get what they deserve.
The perverse in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And from himself shall the good man be satisfied.
15 Foolish people believe everything [that people tell them]; those who have good sense think carefully about what will be the result of their actions.
The simple man believeth every word; But the prudent looketh well to his steps.
16 Wise people are careful and avoid [doing things that will give them] trouble; foolish people are careless and act (too quickly/without thinking).
The wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool is haughty and confident.
17 Those who quickly become angry [IDM] do foolish things; [people] hate those who plan to do wicked things (OR, those who have good sense remain calm/patient).
He who is hasty in his anger will commit folly; And the man of wicked devices will be hated.
18 Foolish people get what they deserve for doing foolish things; those with good sense are rewarded [MET] by being able to learn a lot.
The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 [Some day] evil [people] will bow down in front of righteous [people to show that they respect them]; they [will humbly stand] at the gates of [the houses of] righteous [people and request their help].
The evil bow before the good; Yea, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 [No one likes] poor [people]; even their friends/neighbors do not like them; rich [people] have many friends, but [only while the rich people still have money].
The poor is hated even by his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21 It is sinful to despise your [poor] neighbors; [God] is pleased with those who do kind things for the poor.
He who despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But happy is he who hath mercy on the poor.
22 Those who plan to do things that are evil/wrong are walking on the wrong road; people faithfully love, respect and are loyal to those who plan to do what is good.
Do not they who devise evil fail of their end? But they who devise good meet with kindness and truth.
23 If you work hard, you will (accomplish something good/get a good income), but if all you do is to talk [and not work], you will remain poor.
In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 One of the rewards [MET] of being wise is to become rich; the reward of acting foolishly is to become more foolish.
Riches are a crown to the wise; But the promotion of fools is folly.
25 By saying [in court] what is true, you [can] save the life [of the one who is being falsely accused]; if you tell lies, you are abandoning someone who needs your help [to defend him].
A true witness saveth lives; But a deceitful witness poureth forth lies.
26 Those who revere Yahweh are confident [that he will protect them], and their family will [also] be protected.
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence; Yea, to his children he will be a refuge.
27 Having an awesome respect for Yahweh is [like] [MET] [having] a fountain that gives life; it will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you [MET].
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life; By it men escape from the snares of death.
28 If a king rules over many people, many people will [be able to] honor him; if he has only a few people in his kingdom, he will have very little [HYP] power.
In a numerous people is the glory of a king; But the want of people is the destruction of a prince.
29 Those who do not quickly become angry are very wise; by quickly becoming angry, people show that they are foolish.
He who is slow to anger is of great understanding. But he who is of a hasty spirit setteth folly on high.
30 Having a mind that is peaceful results in having a healthy body; having a mind that is [often] in turmoil is [like] [MET] cancer in [a person’s] bones.
A quiet heart is the life of the flesh; But the ferment of passion is rottenness to the bones.
31 Those who oppress poor people are insulting God, the one who made those poor people, but acting kindly toward them is respecting God.
He who oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he who hath mercy on the poor honoreth him.
32 Wicked [people] ruin themselves by the evil things that they do, but righteous/good [people] are kept safe/protected even when they die (OR, because of their continually doing what is right).
By his wickedness the wicked is thrust down; But the righteous hath hope even in death.
33 Those who have good sense always think what is wise; foolish people do not know anything about being wise.
Wisdom resteth quietly in the heart of the wise; But in the breast of fools it will be made known.
34 [When] the people of a nation [continually act] righteously, it causes that nation to be great; [continually doing what is] evil causes a nation to be disgraced.
Righteousness exalteth a people; But the reproach of nations is sin.
35 Kings are pleased with officials who do their work competently/skillfully, but they punish [MTY] those who [do their work in a manner that] causes the kings to be disgraced.
The king's favor is toward a wise servant; But his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
